New statistics published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change shows that the UK missed its indicative target for 2011/12 for renewable energy.
In its Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2013, DECC showed that electricity from renewable sources in the UK in 2012 increased by 19 per cent on a year earlier and accounted for 11.3 per cent of total UK electricity generation up from 9.4 per cent in 2011.
By 2020, the UK needs to have 15 per cent of its energy generated from renewable sources, and had an indicative target of 4.04 per cent for 2011/12 to measure its progress against the 2020 target.
However, the DECC figures reveal that in 2011/12 only 3.93 per cent of energy is generated from renewable sources.
Although only the overall 2020 target is legally binding, DECC will now be required to submit an amended national renewable energy action plan to the European Commission by 30 June 2014.
Renewable Energy Association (REA) chief executive Gaynor Hartnell said: “This is a near miss. Had Government interfered less with its existing policies for biomass power, stuck to its timetable on the Renewable Heat Incentive, or laid out a clear framework for biofuels, then it would almost certainly have met its indicative target.”
REA is the UK partner for the EU-wide Keep on Track! project, which assesses Member States’ progress towards their 2020 targets.
With this data now published, the Keep on Track! project believes the UK is the only country that has failed to meet both its indicative target and is not expected to meet its 2020 target.
